‘Islands of China and Chinese Islands’: A special thematic section of Island Studies Journal, Vol. 12(2), November 2017
China’s coastal waters contain thousands of islands, yet despite strong traditions of island research elsewhere in East Asia, there has thus far been little dedicated island studies in China. Nevertheless, China’s islands are increasing in environmental, cultural, economic, and political importance. From the Hainan to Zhoushan, from Xiamen to Changdao, from Chongming to Chuanshan, the islands and archipelagos of ‘mainland’ China are ripe for island studies analysis. Fruitful comparison can also be made with research into the numerous islands of Taiwan as well as the Special Administrative Regions of Hong Kong and Macau.
This special thematic section of Island Studies Journal (ISJ) will explore Chinese islands and Chinese islanders. Environmental, urban, cultural, historical, political, economic, anthropological, demographic, and other approaches are welcomed for this groundbreaking publication. The special section will consider these islands in light of the broader island studies literature, thereby highlighting similarities and differences between Chinese and international island conditions and strategies as well as laying the groundwork for future island studies in the region.
Island Studies Journal (http://www.islandstudies.ca/journal), Zhejiang University’s Ocean College (http://dose.zju.edu.cn/chinese), and Island Dynamics (http://www.islanddynamics.org) invite paper submissions on the theme of ‘Islands of China and Chinese Islands’. Selected peer-reviewed papers will be published as a special section in Island Studies Journal, Vol. 12. No. 2 (November 2017).
Papers may focus on case studies, undertake wider comparisons, or take a theoretical approach. Papers may concern islands of ‘mainland’ China, Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, or islands claimed by any of these entities. Papers may also concern Chinese island diaspora communities. It is important that papers not only concern an island society but also engage with how island geography, location, conditions, and/or status are important to the processes under discussion. In other words, the island aspect must be brought to the forefront of the papers.
Island Studies Journal is a web-based, freely downloadable, open access, peer reviewed, electronic journal that publishes papers advancing and critiquing the study of issues affecting or involving islands.
For further information or if you are interested in submitting a paper, contact special section editors Dr Adam Grydehøj (Island Dynamics) or Huan Zhang at . To learn more about Island Studies Journal, contact the journal’s Executive Editor, Dr Godfrey Baldacchino, University of Malta, Malta, at . Manuscripts should preferably be of around 5,000 to 7,000 words (prepared in the APA style, 6th edition, which is the ISJ house style: http://www.islandstudies.ca/guidelines_style.html). They should reach Dr Grydehøj not later thanSeptember 30, 2016 to be considered for the special ISJ section. Please contact Dr Grydehøj ith information about your proposed paper before you begin writing it.